The Friday Donut Run Club Serves Up Sweet Treats and a Safer Running Community
Running is often lauded as the most accessible sport, but scary stories about women being randomly and viciously attacked on the run continue to make headlines. The answer isn’t to tell solo female runners to hit the tread indoors; instead, for many women, it’s about strength in numbers.
Creating a safe environment for female runners is one of the main drivers behind Pasadena’s Friday Donut Run Club, which meets at 6 a.m. at the local Randy’s Donuts. “It’s unfortunate that as women we have to be hyperaware, but this meetup provides a level of security so women don’t have to think about it as much,” explains co-founder Tamar Knoller.
The club, which is free and communicates via a Slack channel, is the only local meet-up to offer early morning runs, adds co-founder Phoebe Chiang. “It makes people feel safe, knowing that there are others to run with in the dark,” she says. “And I’m really grateful for the male runners in the club as well—every time a woman wants to get a few extra miles in, there’s always a guy who volunteers to meet her there so she doesn’t have to run alone.”
Since the Friday Donut Run Club began as a casual get-together between friends during the Covid-19 pandemic, the goal has always been “to create an environment where there’s always someone to run with,” says Knoller—for reasons more than physical safety.
“Having a space to connect with other runners, even now that things are more normal, is so beneficial when it comes to mental health,” says co-founder Jen Lee. “Doing something physical and then sitting down and chatting afterwards opens up a space for people to feel more comfortable and even more vulnerable, which is amazing.”
The Friday Donut Run Club is meant to be accessible to all runners. It started as a five-mile route, but now offers three- and eight-mile options as well as multiple pace groups. “This club didn’t start out as a ‘club’, it was just a group of us that wanted to see each other and be outside,” says Chiang. “We’re learning along the way, but we always come back to the idea of ‘are we creating a safe space for new runners?’”
“We don’t want to create any barrier to entry for anyone,” adds Lee. Kids, parents, grandparents, and pets are all welcome; while there are faster runners in the group, there’s also a large contingent called the Sexy Back Pack for slower runners. “It’s just about accessibility,” says Knoller. “It was really scary when I first started running, and I met other runners that made it less scarier and easier for me, and I would love to do that for others.”
Running can be intimidating, whether you’re afraid to run alone in the dark and nervous about lacing up for your first-ever miles. Being a part of a group that has your back in either situation can make all the difference—even within a small community. “If we can empower more people to take up space and create a safety net and support system, that would be amazing,” says Knoller.
About Ashley Mateo
Respected fitness journalist and editor, certified coach, and Six Star Finisher, Ashley believes running “should be FUN—even when you're working hard to go after your goals.” (We second that philosophy.)
